The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) in collaboration with the National Meteorological Service hereby informs the general public that Tropical Storm Franklin with maximum sustained winds of 60mph is now located near 17.7 North Latitude and 85.1W West Longitude or some 205 miles East of Belize City and 165 miles north east of Half Moon Caye. The barometric pressure is now at 999 milibars (mb). Franklin continues to move to the West-North-West at 14 mph. The cayes and Corozal district can expect Tropical Storm force winds. There is a possibility that Franklin could reach Hurricane strength just before making landfall this evening or tonight. We can expect as much 3-6 inches of rainfall with possible higher amounts, gusty winds, and severe thunderstorms. The forecast is for heavy rainfall over Belize which is likely to cause flash floods, particularly in the south. Also expected is damage to properly built structures, poorly constructed signs, radio/TV masts and antennas. Minor pier damage disruption to transportation, water, electricity, and telephone can be expected. We should also be prepared for some loss of livelihood, mudslides and rock falls.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect from Belize City up to the Corozal district. Shelters will be opened in San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Belize City, Orange Walk and Corozal. NEMO will be providing a dry safe place to shelter so people are expected to bring along their own food and water. Bus runs continue from Belize City to northern, central and southern Belize. Water taxis are still providing service. The cut off time for water taxis is expected to be about 4 p.m. An update will be provided before then. Bus runs will continue until 6 p.m. except for the north, the cut off time is 3:00 p.m. today, all subject to change based on the situation. Flight delays and cancellation will be sent out shortly.

The general public are advised to make the necessary arrangements to protect life and property. At risk families are encouraged to voluntarily move away from the coast to weather the storm in a safe, dry place. If you are exposed to bad weather conditions and flooding move to a shelter or higher grounds, with family or friends. Check up on family members and neighbours who are in need of assistance. Do not wait until it’s too late to take action. People in those areas under a Tropical Storm Watch and Warning are strongly encouraged to put their family emergency plan into action. Secure water and food, loose objects, school books and uniforms in plastic. Never underestimate a tropical cyclone due to its category or strength and where it’s projected to make landfall. People in places like Gungulung, Afghanistan, Belama and Vista del Mar, Port and Lake I use your experiences from Hurricane Earl.

LAST BOAT BELIZE CITY TO CAYES - 1:30LAST BOAT SAN PEDRO TO BELIZE CITY - 3:30LAST BOAT CAYE CAULKER TO BELIZE CITY - 4:00

please check in early, as once the boat is full, it will need to leave (even if a few minutes early)

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San Pedro, Corozal and Orange Walk Belize Bank Branchs will close at 12:00 noon due to approaching Tropical Storm Franklin.

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From SAGA: 226-3266

HELP NEEDED NOW! All Fort Dog animals MUST BE RELOCATED before the storm hits

Fort Dog is located in a low lying area and will flood when this forcasted storm hits San Pedro.

All dogs must be relocated to a safe place until Wednesday. Saga will provide food and crates, you provide a safe home

ALL HANDS ON DECK. Come to Saga now!

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The San Pedro Town Council hereby advises the general public that its offices will be closing at 12:00 noon, today, August 7th, 2017, due to the threat of tropical storm Franklin.

We apologize for any inconveniences caused.

The SPTC strongly suggests you take the necessary measures to be safe. Locate your nearest shelter and have all necessary items at hand.

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Belize Electricity Limited advises its customers that BEL offices in Corozal Town, Orange Walk Town, San Pedro Town and Caye Caulker that will be closed at 12:00 noon today, August 7, and the Belize City office will be closed at 3:00 p.m., due to the approaching Tropical Storm Franklin, which is projected to impact Northern Belize tonight.

BEL offices in the Cayo, Stann Creek and Toledo Districts will remain open as per regular business hours.

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BEL Storm/Hurricane Safety Tips

Turn off the main breaker if the water level rises above or near the outlets and ensure that the entire premise is disconnected from any electrical source.

Do not walk into any area or water that is perceived to be connected to any electrical source.

If the power goes off do not attempt to reinstate the power supply. Turn off all power at your switch box and unplug all electrical appliances.

If you are leaving your premises and suspect that there will be flooding, turn off Main Switch before you leave.

In the event of a storm or hurricane, remember to obtain batteries for your radio so that you can listen to updated advisories.

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ATTENTION: Motorists and pedestrians are hereby advised that the Swing Bridge will be swung at 4 p.m today to give access to boaters.

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NOTICE OF AIRPORT CLOSURE:

Due to the approaching Tropical Storm Franklin, BTB hereby advises the general public and all industry partners that the Department of Civil Aviation has reported that the Phillip Goldson International Airport will close operations at 5pm today.

They will resume operations when the All Clear is given. Note that the second United Airlines and Southwest flight have been cancelled for today.

The BTB takes this opportunity to advise all to take every effort to ensure their personal safety, that of their family and guests and also of their properties.

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The Corozal Free Zone will be closed at 3:00 pm today, Aug 7, 2017. This has become necessary as Tropical Storm Franklin approaches our nation. CFZ Investors and employees are asked to stay tuned to the news casts and weather updates.

The Corozal Free Zone will resume normal activities until the "all clear" has been given by the relevant authorities.

The Government of Belize’s tropical storm warning remains in effect for Tropical Storm Franklin from Belize City up to the Corozal district. Shelters will be opened in San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Belize City, Orange Walk and Corozal.

Tropical Storm Franklin continues to move to the west-north-west at 13 mph with maximum sustained winds near 60 mph. Heavy rainfall is expected over Belize, which may lead to flash floods, particularly in the south. Rainfall of 3-6 inches is anticipated, with gusty winds and severe thunderstorms. There is a possibility that Franklin could strengthen and reach hurricane strength just before making landfall tonight.

Be sure to locate a shelter, monitor media reports, and follow all official instructions. Carry your travel documents at all times (e.g., U.S. passport, birth certificate, picture ID's, etc.) or secure them in a safe, waterproof location. You should also contact friends and family in the United States with updates on your whereabouts.

For any emergencies involving U.S. citizens, please contact the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit in the U.S. Embassy at ACSBelize@state.gov or by calling 501-822-4011.

For further information:

• See the State Department's travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Belize Country Specific Information.

• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.

• Contact the U.S. Embassy in Belize, located at 4 Flora Park Road, Belmopan at +501-822-4011, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. After-hours emergency number for U.S. citizens is +501-610-5030.

• Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

Alcohol sales have been banned! Many business are closing at mid-day Monday – the gas station in town at 4pm and south of town 7pm.

So far, on North Ambergris Caye, we have been getting heavy bands of rain and lightning. The resort next to us is packing up all the beach furniture and anything loose that is around. Many are moving their boats to the lagoon side of the island – to stay away from potential surge and high winds. One resort, that I know of, is moving guests to the units in the back of the property – away from those units close to the ocean.

Tropical Storm Franklin is about 205 miles east of Belize City and moving west-northwest at 14 miles per hour. Tropical Storm Franklin according to the National Hurricane Center is carrying maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour. **Tropical Storm Franklin is expected to become Cat-1 hurricane by nightfall**

Below from Tacogirl:

Wrong Timing Franklin

Tropical Storm Franklin is rearing his ugly self at the exact wrong time – although there is never a good time for a storm. The island is preparing fast for the oncoming storm, businesses are moving boats to the back side of the island, alcohol ban is in effect and some are boarding up.

We are now in the middle of preparing for what has now been up graded from a Tropical Depression to Tropical Storm Franklin early this morning. The winds are strengthening and by Tuesday morning should reach 65 mph as it makes landfall more likely over the Yucatan.

Right now it’s looking like we will get very wet. If you live on the island remember to have spare batteries and flash lights on hand and charge all your devices asap just in case.

2:30pm Update :
As you can see, parts of this so called storm are clearing just to the top of the centre or rotation, there are several other swell-ups just south of that clear area and to the east of it. It is not acting like any normal Tropical Storm, much more like a bunch of ITCZ swell-ups. It is been feed and helped to rotate by regular Pacific winds and cloud from the SW coming in under this area. The whole mass of cloud and its swell-ups is moving to the NW, still causing some patches of rain in many parts of Belize and will continue to do so for the rest of the day. This whole cloud area has been breaking up during the days, then reforming at night time, and so I expect it will do so this afternoon and tonight, by which time, it will be more up near the Yucatan. I have not been able to contact anyone up north to get any real reports. Here in Belmopan we have no wind and only some normal type of winds, when we get those scattered rain showers.

Images of San Pedro Town as Tropical Storm Franklin edges towards the Yucatán Peninsula. Many businesses have closed for the day. Those looking to get off the island, the last boat at San Pedro Belize Express leaves at 4:30PM. In the meantime, a tropical storm warning is in effect for the northern coast of Belize and the entire Mexican State of Quintana Roo. Heavy rain is expected in Belize!

Tropical Storm Franklin continues to move to the West-North-West at 13 mph with maximum sustained winds of 60mph. Franklin is now located near 18.6 North Latitude and 85.9 West Longitude or some 170 miles East of Belize City and 143 miles East-Northeast of San Pedro. The Cayes and Corozal district may experience Tropical Storm force winds. Franklin could reach Hurricane strength before making landfall tonight. Three to six (3-6) inches of rainfall is expected. A tropical storm warning remains in effect from Belize City up to the Corozal District.

Designated Shelters will be opened in San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Belize City, Orange Walk and Corozal. NEMO will be providing a dry safe place to shelter so people are expected to bring along their own food and water.

- Bus runs continue from Belize City to northern, central and southern Belize. Bus runs will continue until 6 p.m. except for the north, the cut off time is now 5:00 p.m.

- Fishers from Saretenja bus will leave at 4:00 p.m.

- Belize City Swing Bridge will be Swung at 4:00 p.m.

- Six shelters will be open in the Corozal District as at 4:00 p.m.; Sarteneja R.C School, Chuox Community Center, Copper Bank Inn, Progresso R.C, Church of Christ and Guadalupe R.C.

- Water taxis are still providing service. The cut off time for water taxis is 4:30 p.m.

- Flight delays and cancellation will be sent out shortly.

Fuel stations in Belize City, Orange Walk, will remain open to the public during normal hours of operations and in Corozal Sol in Ranchito will be open throughout the night. Fuel station will close as follows: 6:00-One Stop Orange Walk; 7:00 p. m.-One Stop Belize Shell Ladyville Shell Xabel; 09:00 PM Shell San Ignacio, Shell Belmopan, Buca Belize. All will open on the All Clear.

Last Cloud update, before the sun gets too low.
I can not see any cause for 60mph winds as mentioned by NEMO, except under those swell-ups when they cause rain and what is called "Micro-bursts" But the movement is now resulting in thicker cloud over northern Belize, which is moving further south. This is resulting in significantly more rain in the north

Tropical Storm Franklin made landfall on the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula near Pulticub, Mexico, around 11:45 pm ET Monday night, according to an advisory from the National Hurricane Center. Franklin moved inland with maximum sustained winds around 60 mph, the center's advisory said.

The storm continues to batter Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula with heavy rain and strong winds and flash flooding is still a major concern. Tropical storm-force winds currently extend outward up to 140 miles from the storm's center, according to the National Weather Center.

Expected rainfall amounts vary between three and six inches, with some areas across the Yucatan Peninsula and Belize may receive as much as 12 inches of rain through Wednesday, according to the center's advisory.

The storm will continue to move toward the west-northwest and should move out into the Bay of Campeche over the next 24 hours, according to the National Weather Center. On the current track, Franklin will move across the Yucatan Peninsula Tuesday and will gather strength as it moves over the Bay of Campeche. Further strengthening is expected when it gets into the warm waters as it heads toward the Mexican coastline for a second landfall sometime early Thursday morning as a Category 1 hurricane between Tampico and Veracruz.

Belize's National Meteorological Service issued a small craft warning Monday night, and advised vessels north of Belize City to seek safe harbor. They expect very rough seas with 8- to 10-foot waves overnight into Tuesday. The National Weather Center advises that water levels could rise as much as two feet above normal tide levels along the eastern Yucatan Peninsula early Tuesday morning.

Radar display from the Philip Goldson Airport at Belize City, Belize, at 0501Z (1:00 am EDT) Tuesday, August 8, 2017, a little more than two hours after Franklin made landfall north of Belize. Image credit: National Meteorological Service of Belize.